Slam overcome sluggish start to win twelfth straight, 117-107 in Tacoma
June 8, 2008 - International Basketball League (IBL)
Bellingham Slam News Release
TACOMA, Wash. - The Bellingham Slam overcame a sluggish start as they won their twelfth straight game, 117-107 over the Tacoma Jazz in a physical International Basketball League game at Mount Tahoma High School on Sunday.
The Slam started the game cold, scoring just seven points in the first five minutes. But Tacoma had an equally tough time scoring, and led by just five, at 30-25, at the end of the first quarter.
Bellingham got its offense going in the second quarter, and used a 9-0 run in the middle stages of the quarter to take a 46-45 lead. The Slam maintained their single-point lead going into halftime, at 61-60.
In the third quarter, the Slam's defense came up big, holding the Jazz to 21 points in the quarter and helping the Slam extend their lead to 90-81 after three periods.
The Jazz wouldn't go away quietly, however, as they hit a trio of three-pointers to trim the Slam's lead back down to one early in the fourth quarter. Ryan Diggs responded for the Slam by scoring eight straight points to put Bellingham's lead back into double digits, at 105-94, with 4:34 left to play. The Slam used solid free throw shooting down the stretch to seal the victory.
Diggs led the Slam in scoring with 26 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter. Lukas Henne was not far behind, notching a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds.
Dontay Harris led five Tacoma players in double figures with 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Ike O'Hanson notched 17 points and grabbed 13 boards.
The Slam continue their road trip with a game on Saturday in Vancouver against the Volcanoes, but not before Diggs, Jacob Stevenson, Lukas Henne and coach Rob Ridnour head to Gary, Indiana on Thursday to represent the Slam at the 2008 IBL All-Star Game.
The Slam return home to face the Jazz in a rematch on June 21. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. at Whatcom Pavilion.
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